CEO Guide to Site Selection

Arkansas

NEW GROWTH IN THE NATURAL STATE

Arkansas may be known as the home of Walmart, but there’s a lot more to the Natural State. Its manufacturing sector now provides more than 12% of the state’s jobs, while the food and agribusiness industries continue to grow. Tyson Foods is headquartered here, and food companies like PepsiCo, Nestlé, Kraft and Heinz also have a notable presence. Yet the state is also home to a growing number of companies in tech, cybersecurity and financial services. While CEOs like the favorable business climate that makes it easy for businesses to relocate and expand, workers like the scenic beauty and low cost of living.

"We should be focused less on the minimum wage and instead focus on empowering Arkansans with the right education and job training opportunities to earn their maximum wage.”
Sarah Huckabee
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

Yes

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2010 and 2020

KEY INCENTIVES

Advantage Arkansas: Offers a state income tax credit for the creation of jobs based on the payroll of new, full- time, permanent employees hired.

Tax Back: Provides sales and use tax refunds on the purchase of building materials, machinery and equipment to eligible businesses.

ArkPlus: A state income tax credit program that provides tax credits of 10% of the total investment in a new location or expansion project.

Equity Investment Incentive Program: Discretionary income tax credit of up to 33.3% of amount invested for technology-based businesses offering wages above state or county averages.

EDCs

Arkansas Economic Development Commission
arkansasedc.com

Association of Arkansas Development Organizations

arkansaseconomicregions.org

Little Rock Regional Chamber

littlerockchamber.com/economic-development

Fort Smith Regional Alliance

fortsmithregionalalliance.com

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

In August 2022, the governors of Arkansas and Oklahoma announced plans to develop the Oklahoma-Arkansas region as a national hub for advanced mobility with the support of Tulsa Innovation Labs and Runway Group, a holding company in Bentonville. The effort will support the growth in the area of the advanced mobility industry, including drones, electric and autonomous vehicles, battery manufacturing, and transportation and logistics solutions.

BIG DEALS

  • Bryce Corporation announced in April 2022 an $80 million expansion and 142 new jobs in Searcy.
  • GoTextbooks announced in August 2022 a $10 million investment and 200 jobs in Little Rock.
  • Hostess Brands announced in September 2022 a $140 million facility and 150 new jobs in Arkadelphia.
  • Arkana Laboratories announced in September 2022 a $30 million expansion and 74 new jobs in Little Rock.
  • Owens Corning announced in October 2022 a $24.5 million expansion and 50 new jobs in Fort Smith.
  • Tyson Foods announced in October 2022 plans to consolidate its corporate operations from South Dakota and Illinois to the company’s headquarters in Springdale. The move is estimated to add about 1,000 jobs.
  • French company Veolia announced in October 2022 a $600 million investment and 125 new jobs in Gum Springs.

BIG COMPANIES

6 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in state:

  • Walmart
  • Tyson Foods Murphy USA
  • JB Hunt Transport Services Dillard’s
  • ArcBest
Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.